June 25, 2010
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Click button to listen to Italy out and rightclick to download
Robert Vittek celebrates after scoring his second goal to
make it 2-0 to Slovakia against Italy at Ellis Park stadium in
Johannesburg yesterday. Slovakia won 3-2. EPA
JOHANNESBURG: Reigning champions Italy were knocked out of the World Cup on Thursday as they slumped to a sensational 3-2 defeat to unheralded Slovakia in an Ellis Park thriller.
Robert Vittek scored a brace to put the Slovaks in control and Kamil Kopunek added a late third either side of Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella strikes in a frantic finish.
Slovakia join Paraguay in the last 16 from Group F after a thoroughly deserved victory in a game which summed up Italy's lacklustre campaign.
The defeat also meant Italy suffered the extra humiliation of finishing bottom of the group, which was won by Paraguay, with even little New Zealand ahead of them in third spot.
Italy started brightly with a couple of half chances as Di Natale, making his first start in the competition, tried a speculative long range volley, which sailed over, while Vincenzo Iaquinta screwed a shot wastefully wide with his left foot.
However, the Italians went behind for the third game in a row as Juraj Kucka cut out a poor Daniele De Rossi pass deep in Italian territory and fed Vittek who rifled home low and hard from the edge of the box.
Zdenek Srba then forced Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti into a sprawling save with a surprise shot from distance.
However, Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel almost headed into his own goal from De Rossi's deep ball into the box.
The half finished with Kucka lashing a stunning volley an inch wide of the post as Italy failed to get any foothold in the game.
The Azzurri finally opened up the Slovak defence on 55 minutes as substitute Christian Maggio slipped in Di Natale but on the turn he sank his shot wide.
A minute later Lippi rolled his last throw of the dice as he brought on Andrea Pirlo for the AC Milan star's first appearance in South Africa.
Di Natale tried a curler from the edge of the box that goalkeeper Jan Mucha dealt with competently while Maggio had to get back to stop Miroslav Stoch getting a clear run on goal.
Italy were then a whisker away from equalising as Skrtel blocked Quagliarella's shot on the line with his knee.
Stoch then had a chance to finish things on the counter but he blazed wide as if anything, Slovakia were looking the more likely to score.
And so it proved on 73 minutes as Vittek grabbed his second as he stole into the near post to convert Hamsik's cross.
But that sparked a crazy finish to the game.
Nine minutes from time Italy scored with a brilliantly worked goal as Quagliarella played a one-two with Iaquinta and although Mucha saved his shot, Di Natale swept home the loose ball.
That prompted an ugly melee in the net with Quagliarella and Mucha booked.
Quagliarella then had a goal rightly ruled out for offside before substitute Kopunek bagged the third with his first touch.
In a tense conclusion, Quagliarella scored with a delightful chip but it was too late to save the ageing champions.
reigning champions – the current champions แชมป์ปัจจุบัน
slump – to fall suddenly ตกต่ำมาก
sensational – of something very exciting or interesting, or something which causes great excitement or interest ความตื่นเต้น
unheralded – not previously noticed or praised much
thriller – an exciting match, film, book, etc. สิ่งที่ทำให้ตื่นเต้นเร้าใจ
brace – two goals in a single game
frantic – done in a very urgent way อย่างกระวนกระวาย, ซึ่งไม่สามารถความคุมอารมณ์ได้
deserved - describes something that you earn or are given because of your behavior or qualities สมควรได้รับ
sum up – to summarise; to make a judgment about what someone or something is like สรุป
lacklustre – not lively, exciting, or impressive ที่น่าเบื่อ, ไม่แวววาว
campaign – a series of matches in a tournament
humiliation – an unhappy and ashamed feeling ความอัปยศ ความน่าอับอาย
speculative – hoping something good will happen ไม่แน่นอน, เสี่ยง
volley – kicking (or hitting) the ball before it touches the ground ตีวอล์เลย์
screw – to cause something turn something round and round
rifle – to hit or kick a ball hard so that it moves very fast in a straight line
sprawl – to fall, sit or lie with your arms and legs stretched out in different directions นอนกางแขนกางขา, นอนเหยียดแขนเหยียดขา
lash – to hit with a lot of force กระทบอย่างแรง
stunning – very shocking or impressive ที่ตระการตา ทำให้ตกใจ
foothold – a secure position from which you can improve your situation ฐานที่มั่นคง
substitute – a player who replaces another member of his or her team during a match ตัวสำรอง
rolled his last throw of the dice – took the last risk (dangerous chance) he had available
curl – a shot that moves in a curving or twisting way การเตะโค้ง
competent – satisfactory or effective; good enough for the purpose but not especially good อย่างเพียงพอ
a whisker away – very close, as close as a hair on the man’s face
equalise – to level the score, i.e., to cause both teams to have the same score ทำให้เท่ากัน, ตีเสมอ
counter – to stop an attack and begin a quick attack of your own โต้กลับ
blaze – to kick a ball with great force
stole (past of steal) – moved somewhere quietly and secretly ค่อยๆ เคลื่อนเข้าใกล้, ค่อยๆ แอบเข้าใกล้
spark – to make something happen ก่อให้เกิด
brilliant – very skilful, impressive or successful ยอดเยี่ยม
melee – an uncontrolled situation การต่อสู้การชุลมุน
book – to record the name of a player whose has broken the rules in an official book and, in football, to give the player a yellow card or red card บันทึก, ให้ใบเหลืองหรือใบแดง
bag – to get something ได้
delightful - very pleasant, attractive or enjoyable น่าปิติยินดี
chip – to hit or kick a ball so that it goes high into the air for a short distance
Italy joins France in going home
Italy, 2006 world champions, lost its last chance to stay in the World Cup last night when it lost to Slovakia. At least the game was exciting. I suggest you look at the video highlights from the fifa.com website before reading the story below. There was a lot of action, especially late in the match.highlight – the most exciting,
impressive, or interesting
part of an event เหตุการณ์สำคัญ, จุดสำคัญ
Click button to listen to Italy out and rightclick to download
Holders Italy sent crashing out
Robert Vittek celebrates after scoring his second goal to
make it 2-0 to Slovakia against Italy at Ellis Park stadium in
Johannesburg yesterday. Slovakia won 3-2. EPAJOHANNESBURG: Reigning champions Italy were knocked out of the World Cup on Thursday as they slumped to a sensational 3-2 defeat to unheralded Slovakia in an Ellis Park thriller.
Robert Vittek scored a brace to put the Slovaks in control and Kamil Kopunek added a late third either side of Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella strikes in a frantic finish.
Slovakia join Paraguay in the last 16 from Group F after a thoroughly deserved victory in a game which summed up Italy's lacklustre campaign.
The defeat also meant Italy suffered the extra humiliation of finishing bottom of the group, which was won by Paraguay, with even little New Zealand ahead of them in third spot.
Italy started brightly with a couple of half chances as Di Natale, making his first start in the competition, tried a speculative long range volley, which sailed over, while Vincenzo Iaquinta screwed a shot wastefully wide with his left foot.
However, the Italians went behind for the third game in a row as Juraj Kucka cut out a poor Daniele De Rossi pass deep in Italian territory and fed Vittek who rifled home low and hard from the edge of the box.
Zdenek Srba then forced Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti into a sprawling save with a surprise shot from distance.
However, Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel almost headed into his own goal from De Rossi's deep ball into the box.
The half finished with Kucka lashing a stunning volley an inch wide of the post as Italy failed to get any foothold in the game.
The Azzurri finally opened up the Slovak defence on 55 minutes as substitute Christian Maggio slipped in Di Natale but on the turn he sank his shot wide.
A minute later Lippi rolled his last throw of the dice as he brought on Andrea Pirlo for the AC Milan star's first appearance in South Africa.
Di Natale tried a curler from the edge of the box that goalkeeper Jan Mucha dealt with competently while Maggio had to get back to stop Miroslav Stoch getting a clear run on goal.
Italy were then a whisker away from equalising as Skrtel blocked Quagliarella's shot on the line with his knee.
Stoch then had a chance to finish things on the counter but he blazed wide as if anything, Slovakia were looking the more likely to score.
And so it proved on 73 minutes as Vittek grabbed his second as he stole into the near post to convert Hamsik's cross.
But that sparked a crazy finish to the game.
Nine minutes from time Italy scored with a brilliantly worked goal as Quagliarella played a one-two with Iaquinta and although Mucha saved his shot, Di Natale swept home the loose ball.
That prompted an ugly melee in the net with Quagliarella and Mucha booked.
Quagliarella then had a goal rightly ruled out for offside before substitute Kopunek bagged the third with his first touch.
In a tense conclusion, Quagliarella scored with a delightful chip but it was too late to save the ageing champions.
reigning champions – the current champions แชมป์ปัจจุบัน
slump – to fall suddenly ตกต่ำมาก
sensational – of something very exciting or interesting, or something which causes great excitement or interest ความตื่นเต้น
unheralded – not previously noticed or praised much
thriller – an exciting match, film, book, etc. สิ่งที่ทำให้ตื่นเต้นเร้าใจ
brace – two goals in a single game
frantic – done in a very urgent way อย่างกระวนกระวาย, ซึ่งไม่สามารถความคุมอารมณ์ได้
deserved - describes something that you earn or are given because of your behavior or qualities สมควรได้รับ
sum up – to summarise; to make a judgment about what someone or something is like สรุป
lacklustre – not lively, exciting, or impressive ที่น่าเบื่อ, ไม่แวววาว
campaign – a series of matches in a tournament
humiliation – an unhappy and ashamed feeling ความอัปยศ ความน่าอับอาย
speculative – hoping something good will happen ไม่แน่นอน, เสี่ยง
volley – kicking (or hitting) the ball before it touches the ground ตีวอล์เลย์
screw – to cause something turn something round and round
rifle – to hit or kick a ball hard so that it moves very fast in a straight line
sprawl – to fall, sit or lie with your arms and legs stretched out in different directions นอนกางแขนกางขา, นอนเหยียดแขนเหยียดขา
lash – to hit with a lot of force กระทบอย่างแรง
stunning – very shocking or impressive ที่ตระการตา ทำให้ตกใจ
foothold – a secure position from which you can improve your situation ฐานที่มั่นคง
substitute – a player who replaces another member of his or her team during a match ตัวสำรอง
rolled his last throw of the dice – took the last risk (dangerous chance) he had available
curl – a shot that moves in a curving or twisting way การเตะโค้ง
competent – satisfactory or effective; good enough for the purpose but not especially good อย่างเพียงพอ
a whisker away – very close, as close as a hair on the man’s face
equalise – to level the score, i.e., to cause both teams to have the same score ทำให้เท่ากัน, ตีเสมอ
counter – to stop an attack and begin a quick attack of your own โต้กลับ
blaze – to kick a ball with great force
stole (past of steal) – moved somewhere quietly and secretly ค่อยๆ เคลื่อนเข้าใกล้, ค่อยๆ แอบเข้าใกล้
spark – to make something happen ก่อให้เกิด
brilliant – very skilful, impressive or successful ยอดเยี่ยม
melee – an uncontrolled situation การต่อสู้การชุลมุน
book – to record the name of a player whose has broken the rules in an official book and, in football, to give the player a yellow card or red card บันทึก, ให้ใบเหลืองหรือใบแดง
bag – to get something ได้
delightful - very pleasant, attractive or enjoyable น่าปิติยินดี
chip – to hit or kick a ball so that it goes high into the air for a short distance